704 Unfiltered

Health officials in North Carolina are preparing for tens of thousands of doses of the recently approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Billie Jean Shaw has details on the rollout, with at least 10,000 vaccines coming to Mecklenburg County. Experts believe the single-dose vaccine could be a game-changer when it comes to ending the coronavirus pandemic. 

Rachel Lundberg joins the show to discuss the return of concerts, as entertainment venues and music organizers are preparing to resume shows as soon as the end of this summer. 

The Senate will debate President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package today with a vote possible as early as Wednesday. The bill would include $1,400 stimulus checks but Democrats have all but given up on a minimum wage increase as part of the bill. As things stand now, Democrats will need to keep every vote on their side to use the tie-breaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris, otherwise the bill will head back to the House for changes and further debate. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Happy Monday! Gaston County students in kindergarten through 5th grade will switch to in-person learning four days a week starting today. The Gaston County Board of Education voted on the matter on Feb. 8. Plus South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has lifted the state's rules on approvals for large gatherings and selling alcohol at bars after 11 p.m., two orders designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

North Carolina's loosened COVID-19 restrictions take effect Friday. As a result, bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve more guests indoors with alcohol being served until 11 p.m. This is a huge development for small businesses that have been shut down for nearly a year due to the pandemic. 

Ben Thompson connects the dots on how COVID-19 vaccine research could help find a cure for cancer. There's a key ingredient in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that gives scientists optimism they could train our bodies to detect and fight cancer before it spreads. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Gov. Roy Cooper announced a new executive order Wednesday that will lift some of the state's COVID-19 restrictions. Bars will now be allowed to serve alcohol until 11 p.m. and the nightly 10 p.m. curfew is eliminated. 

Sporting venues will be allowed to operate with more fans, jumping from 100 at outdoor venues to 30% capacity. Indoor arenas can hold 15% capacity, which is great news for the Charlotte Hornets and high school parents who want to see their kids play. 

Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine could be a game-changer, but it must clear the FDA's approval process before anyone can get the shot. Plus, Ben and Carolyn explain why the early bird gets the worm at work. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

North Carolina teachers are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as the state moves into Group 3 vaccinations. Other front-line workers won't be eligible for another two weeks to allow educators to make appointments for the shot. We have details on clinics set up across the Charlotte area for teachers. 

Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to ease some restrictions on businesses and other aspects of life as COVID-19 metrics continue to move in the right direction. Cooper said last week he'd announce a new executive order to replace the existing order, which expires at the end of February. One consideration being discussed is allowing more fans to attend and college and high school sports. It's unclear if this would also apply to professional games, which are currently capped at 7% capacity for outdoor venues. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte. Join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Fans of Charlotte FC aren't happy after the club announced they will require PSLs for season tickets. Personal Seat Licenses, or PSLs, are a one-time fee ticketholders must purchase for the right to buy season tickets in a particular section of the stadium. Charlotte FC will be the first team in Major League Soccer to require them for season tickets. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will meet Tuesday evening to discuss the return of in-person learning after middle and high school students went back to the classroom for the first time in nearly a year Monday. The district is expected to discuss what's working and what isn't, as well as the latest COVID-19 metrics from across North Carolina. 

Plus, Ben Thompson explains why Charlotte's City Council elections could be delayed a full year. Spoiler alert: You can blame COVID-19 for that, too. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte. And as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT.

Middle and high school students will return to the classroom Monday for the first time in nearly a year. Richard DeVayne has details on CMS' resumption of in-person learning and how the district plans to keep everyone safe. 

UNC Charlotte is also returning to the classroom for in-person instruction, as Billie Jean Shaw reports. The university has strict measures in place, including mandatory COVID-19 testing. 

Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to announce a new executive order this week as North Carolina's COVID-19 metrics continue their downward trend. Cooper hinted at easing some restrictions on businesses, but nothing is decided at this time. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance made its highly anticipated landing on the Red Planet. Will we find signs of life? Ben Thompson and Carolyn Bruck think so, as do #WakeUpCLT viewers! 

Residents in Charlotte's Tent City have until 5 p.m. Friday to evacuate the property due to a rat infestation. Ben connects the dots on how other homeless encampments have been affected by rodents and why this is a very serious public health danger. 

COVID-19 vaccine shipments are being delayed due to the extreme weather, while North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says he'll announce a new executive order next week aimed at keeping the state's trends going in the right direction.

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories are in effect for most of North Carolina as a storm system is dumping freezing rain and ice on the region Thursday. We have team coverage from across the Charlotte area to prepare you for what's to come. 

First Warn meteorologist Chris Mulcahy has reports from along I-40, where freezing rain began falling around 5 a.m. Forecaster Larry Sprinkle has the details on how long that freezing rain may hang around the region, and when we might get some warmer weather. 

Richard DeVayne is in Hickory, North Carolina, where temperatures are hovering around freezing with plenty of rain, and Billie Jean Shaw has the latest from Statesville. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Winter Weather Alerts are already in effect ahead of a winter storm that will bring ice and freezing rain to North Carolina Wednesday. Larry Sprinkle has the details on what we can expect and just how bad things might be. 

Nearly three dozen people are without their home after an early morning apartment fire in south Charlotte. Richard DeVayne has the latest from the scene as investigators have determined what caused the fire to start. 

Billie Jean Shaw has a report from Charlotte's Tent City, where residents were told they have 72 hours to clear the property due to a rat infestation. Mecklenburg County is working with these people to give them somewhere to stay in the interim, but it's unclear how much it will cost or where they will be placed. 

Plus, if you've already had your morning coffee, we hope you brushed your teeth beforehand! Ben & Carolyn discuss why you should brush before you brew. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join our conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!